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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

[friendlygreeting]
First of all, hello and may I say what a nice forum you have here. Given how difficult learning Linux has been, it seems like I'll be hanging out here a lot. I decided to start with Slackware because I want to really understand the system... or because I'm a masochist.
[/friendlygreeting]

Anyway, I got a Panasonic CF-29 toughbook, which ships with windows XP and I honestly have no idea how to install slackware because there's no CD drive and the BIOS doesn't have an option to boot from USB. The additional complication is that every other system I own runs Windows. I've figured out that I have to make a boot and install disk (though I'm not really sure how to make them or what to do with them once I have them).

So the immediate question for me is "Which image file do I put on the boot disk?"

... there's no CD drive and the BIOS doesn't have an option to boot from USB.

To learn Slackware (or any other Linux distribution), I would recommend learning the basics first and obtain a simple surplus computer with a CD/DVD drive. Many more members of this forum would be able to help you if your computer was similar to the computers used by the forum members.

(I've been entertaining myself by imagining what hitest wrote and then decided to delete. )

Could I use a couple floppies to do a basic install, then download the rest from the internet?

EDIT: a network boot would be cool, but I'd need another working Linux system to set up the server, unfortunately.

Hi

You do not need another Linux computer for a Slackware PXE installation.

If you have another computer and it has a DVD drive, or else it is able to boot from USB, then you can boot the Slackware installer on THAT computer.

If you run "pxesetup" instead of "setup" at the installation prompt, then the installer will ask a few simple questions and then start a PXE server on that computer which will let you install Slackware over the network on that DVD-less computer of yours. Try it, it's really simple.

[friendlygreeting]Anyway, I got a Panasonic CF-29 toughbook, which ships with windows XP and I honestly have no idea how to install slackware because there's no CD drive and the BIOS doesn't have an option to boot from USB.

This is strange. I have a Panasonic CF-T4 Toughbook with even lower specs than yours (Pentium M, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB disk), and I installed Slackware 14.0 on it using a USB disk. What you can try:

Insert the USB boot disk

Start the PC and enter the BIOS

Enable the inserted disk to boot

Save BIOS settings and boot on USB

If you don't know how to create a bootable USB disk, here's a mini-HOWTO:

Haven't tried it, but I think it should be possible to start with installing Slackware 11 and then upgrade. This way you wouldn't need to set up another Linux system.

@all: Is it possible to upgrade from Slackware 11 to Slackware 14 skipping all the releases in between? Personally I think it is, but others may have more experience.

Other option: Instead of setting up another Linux system you might just download an iso image to the hard disk of one of your other systems and then boot a live system from CD on that system. Again, I am not sure, but it should be possible to enable PXE boot this way.

@all: Please correct me, if I am wrong, I have never used PXE in my life...

All the installation methods posted here are great, but, I have to agree with suggestion in post #5 as your hdd has a door on the side for removal.
I would just purchase a usb enlosure slap the drive in the enclosure.
Plug in to another computer & install from there.
Another option would be to install an OS using wubi-installer which will work in winsxp.